Ottawa

Completed

War Amps – Cliff Chadderton Project

New entry canopies to revitalize a tired building and commemorate the long time Chief Executive Officer Hugh Clifford Chadderton who died in 2013

Contractor

TBD

ARCA-VERDE is pleased to be a part of this project for a good cause. War Amps of Canada approached ARAC-VERDE to revitalize the existing building on Riverside Drive in Ottawa. The client recognized the need to freshen up the facades and provide barrier free access to the principal entrance of the building. ARCA-VERDE set out to develop an impacting project with a small budget recognizing that the client is a charity. ARCA-VERDE’s approach was to investigate the legacy of Cliff Chadderton. With a strong understanding resulting in an undeniable feeling of a life well lived, ARCA-VERDE began working on their most important project to date. Using the War Amps expression ‘It is what is left that counts’ ARCA-VERDE developed the design result.

Site

Situated mid block on the east side of Riverside Drive across from Mooney’s Bay Park and Terry Fox Field. Its location and zoning offered little obstacles. However, the current vehicular access involves a difficult side lane access to a parking lot behind the building. ARCA-VERDE recognized that this difficult lane effectively redefined the back entry as the main point of access for the building. The problem lies in a lack of barrier free access and inevitable feeling of entering through the service entry. To alleviate this ARCA-VERDE placed a lay-by at the front of the building and widened the vehicle entry point offering an opportunity for cars or ParaTranspo to drop off visitors in front of the building.

ARCA-VERDE introduced a new barrier free ramp experience to access the front door currently only served by difficult concrete stairs. This ramp will incorporate planters and benches both softening the hard street edge and offer an area of relaxation for employees or visitors to sit, eat lunch or read a book. The canopies and wing walls will better define the entry point of both the front and back door. The materials are chosen to be environmentally friendly, durable and in keeping with War Amps belief that ‘It is what is left that counts’. The materials chosen are ones that get stronger with age, scaring or weathering such as scorched wood (increased density with burning), A606 weathered steel (self-sealing with rust) and concrete (increased strength with age).